Context-based management of wearable computing devices

ABSTRACT

Technologies for context-based management of wearable computing devices include a mobile computing device and a wearable computing device. The wearable computing device generates sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computing device and transmits the sensor data to the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device generates local sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computing device and fuses the local sensor data with the sensor data received from the wearable computing device. The mobile computing device determines a context of the wearable computing device based on the fused sensor data. The mobile computing device determines whether an adjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device is required based on the determined context. The mobile computing device manages the functionality of the wearable computing device in response to determining that an adjustment to the functionality is required.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent arises from a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/496,380, entitled “CONTEXT-BASED MANAGEMENT OF WEARABLE COMPUTINGDEVICES,” which was filed on Sep. 25, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,419,886 on Sep. 17, 2019. Priority to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/496,380 is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND

Sensors and other monitoring devices are becoming a common companion inthe everyday life of many people. In fact, many of the electricaldevices utilized on a daily basis by an individual include multiplesensors. For example, many mobile computing devices, such as smartphonesand tablet computers, include a plethora of sensors. Sensors are alsocommonly used in static electronic devices, such as consumer electronics(e.g., a “smart” televisions), access security systems, and otherimmobile electronic devices. Additionally, in a more recent trend,sensors have been added to wearable personal items such as “smart”clothing, watches, glasses, bracelets, and other jewelry and wearablepersonal items.

Depending on the type of sensor and the device or item in which it isincluded, a sensor may be configured to monitor various stimuli andgenerate sensor data indicative of various characteristics. For example,the sensors included in many mobile computing devices are oftentimesconfigured to generate sensor data indicative of various contextparameters of the mobile computing device itself, such as the currentlocation of the mobile computing device, characteristics of the currentenvironment of the mobile computing device, and/or other contextparameters related to the mobile computing device. Alternatively,sensors included in wearable personal items are oftentimes configured togenerate sensor data indicative of a context parameter of the wearablepersonal item such as, the current location of the wearable personalitem and/or a various context parameters of the wearer such as, thewearer's heart rate or activity level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The concepts described herein are illustrated by way of example and notby way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity andclarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale. Where considered appropriate, referencelabels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding oranalogous elements.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of asystem for context-based management of wearable computing devices;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of anenvironment of the mobile computing devices of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of at least one embodiment of anenvironment of the wearable computing devices of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of amethod for context-based management of the wearable computing devicesthat may be executed by the mobile computing device of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of amethod for determining a location that may be executed by the mobilecomputing device of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of amethod for generating and transmitting sensor data that may be executedby a wearable computing device of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a simplified flow diagram of at least one embodiment of amethod for context-based management that may be executed by a wearablecomputing device of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and will be describedherein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is nointent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particularforms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the presentdisclosure and the appended claims.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily includethat particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, suchphrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further,when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described. Additionally, it should be appreciated that itemsincluded in a list in the form of “at least one of A, B, and C” can mean(A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C).Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” canmean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C).

The disclosed embodiments may be implemented, in some cases, inhardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. The disclosedembodiments may also be implemented as instructions carried by or storedon one or more transitory or non-transitory machine-readable (e.g.,computer-readable) storage medium, which may be read and executed by oneor more processors. A machine-readable storage medium may be embodied asany storage device, mechanism, or other physical structure for storingor transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., avolatile or non-volatile memory, a media disc, or other media device).

In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown inspecific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should beappreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not berequired. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged ina different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures.Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in aparticular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required inall embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may becombined with other features.

Referring now to FIG. 1, in an illustrative embodiment, a system 100 forcontext-based control of wearable computing devices includes a mobilecomputing device 110 and a wearable computing device 130, whichwirelessly communicate with each other. In use, context sensor(s) 120 ofthe mobile computing device 110 may generate sensor data indicative of acontext of the mobile computing device 110 and/or a user of the mobilecomputing device 110. Additionally, local context sensor(s) 132 of thewearable computing device 130 may generate local sensor data indicativeof a local context of the wearable computing device 130. In someembodiments, the wearable computing device 130 may transmit the localsensor data indicative of the local context to the mobile computingdevice 110. The mobile computing device 110 may subsequently fuse thesensor data generated by the context sensor(s) 120 with the local sensordata received from the wearable computing device 130 to generate fusedsensor data. Subsequently, the mobile computing device 110 may determinea context of the wearable computing device 130 based on the fused sensordata. Thereafter, the mobile computing device 110 may compare thedetermined context to a context policy database 124 to determine whetheran adjustment to the functionality and/or the power state of thewearable computing device 130 is required. In response to determiningthat an adjustment to the functionality and/or the power state of thewearable computing device 130 is required, the mobile computing device110 may generate and transmit a management message (e.g., a controlmessage and/or a notification message) to the wearable computing device130. The wearable computing device 130 may adjust (e.g., modify,reconfigure, etc.) its functionality and/or power state based on themanagement message received from the mobile computing device 110.Additionally or alternatively, the wearable computing device 130 maydisplay a notification message to a user of the wearable computingdevice 130 based on the management message received from the mobilecomputing device 110. It should be appreciated that by fusing the sensordata and determining the context of the wearable computing device 130 onthe mobile computing device 110, the power consumption of wearablecomputing device 130 may be conserved.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the sensor data generated by thelocal context sensor(s) 132 of the wearable computing device 130 may beused to determine a more accurate location of the mobile computingdevice 110. In such embodiments, the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobilecomputing device 110 may generate sensor data indicative of a locationcontext of the mobile computing device 110. Additionally, the localcontext sensor(s) 132 of the wearable computing device 130 may generatelocal sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearablecomputing device 130. The local sensor data indicative of a locationcontext of the wearable computing device 130 may be transmitted to themobile computing device 110. The mobile computing device 110 may fusethe sensor data indicative of the location context of the mobilecomputing device 110 and the received sensor data indicative of thelocation context of the wearable computing device 130 to generate fusedlocation sensor data. Thereafter, the mobile computing device 110 maydetermine the location of the mobile computing device 110 based on thefused location sensor data. It should be appreciated that by fusing thesensor data generated by the context sensor(s) 120 with the sensor datagenerated by the local context sensor(s) 134 of the wearable computingdevice 130, a more accurate location may be determined for the mobilecomputing device 110.

The mobile computing device 110 may be embodied as, or otherwiseinclude, any type of computing device capable of performing thefunctions described herein including, but not limited to a mobile phone,a smart phone, a tablet computing device, a personal digital assistant,a wearable computing device, a desktop computer, a laptop computingdevice, a server computer, a consumer electronic device, a smarttelevision, a smart appliance, and/or other type of computing device.The illustrative mobile computing device 110 includes a processor 112, amemory 114, an input/output (I/O) subsystem 116, communication circuitry118, one or more context sensors 120, and a data storage 122. Of course,the mobile computing device 110 may include other or additionalcomponents, such as those commonly found in a computer (e.g., variousinput/output devices), in other embodiments. Additionally, in someembodiments, one or more of the illustrative components may beincorporated in, or otherwise form a portion of, another component. Forexample, the memory 114, or portions thereof, may be incorporated in theprocessor 112 in some embodiments.

The processor 112 may be embodied as any type of processor capable ofperforming the functions described herein. For example, the processor112 may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor(s), digitalsignal processor, microcontroller, or other processor orprocessing/controlling circuit. Similarly, the memory 114 may beembodied as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data storagecapable of performing the functions described herein. In operation, thememory 114 may store various data and software used during operation ofthe mobile computing device 110 such as operating systems, applications,programs, libraries, and drivers. The memory 114 is communicativelycoupled to the processor 112 via the I/O subsystem 116, which may beembodied as circuitry and/or components to facilitate input/outputoperations with the processor 112, the memory 114, and other componentsof the mobile computing device 110. For example, the I/O subsystem 116may be embodied as, or otherwise include, memory controller hubs,input/output control hubs, firmware devices, communication links (i.e.,point-to-point links, bus links, wires, cables, light guides, printedcircuit board traces, etc.) and/or other components and subsystems tofacilitate the input/output operations. In some embodiments, the I/Osubsystem 116 may form a portion of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and beincorporated, along with the processor 112, the memory 114, and othercomponents of the mobile computing device 110, on a single integratedcircuit chip.

The communication circuitry 118 of the mobile computing device 110 maybe embodied as any type of communication circuit, device, or collectionthereof, capable of enabling communications between the mobile computingdevice 110 and the wearable computing device(s) 130 and/or any othercomputing device. For example, the communication circuitry 118 of themobile computing device 110 may be configured to receive sensor datatransmitted by the wearable computing device(s) 130. In someembodiments, the communication circuitry 118 may be configured transmitan interrogation signal to the wearable computing device(s) 130 topromote the wearable computing device(s) 130 to transmit the sensordata. Additionally or alternatively, the communication circuitry 118 ofthe mobile computing device 110 may be configured to transmit managementmessages to the wearable computing device(s) 130 based on the determinedcontext of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Depending on theparticular type of communication modalities utilized by the wearablecomputing device(s) 130, the communication circuitry 118 may utilize anysuitable communication protocol and related technology to effect suchcommunication. For example, in some embodiments, the communicationcircuitry 118 may use the ANT+ communication protocol, the Bluetooth LowEnergy (BTLE) communication protocol, or other communication protocol tocommunicate with the wearable computing device(s) 130.

The context sensor(s) 120 may be embodied as any type of sensors ordevices capable of sensing and generating data indicative of a contextof the mobile computing device 110 and/or a user of the mobile computingdevice 110. For example, in some embodiments, the context sensor(s) 120may be embodied as, or otherwise include one or more location sensors.The location sensor(s) may be embodied as one or more global positioningsystem (GPS) sensors or devices and may be configured to determine thecurrent location (e.g., a location context) of the mobile computingdevice 110. Of course, the location sensor(s) may be embodied as anyother type of sensors configured to determine a location context (e.g.,the current location) of the mobile computing device 110.

Additionally or alternatively, the context sensor(s) 120 may be embodiedas, or otherwise include, one or more motion and/or activity sensors. Insuch embodiments, the motion and/or activity sensor(s) may be embodiedas any type of sensor capable of sensing characteristics or parametersindicative the motion of the mobile computing device 110 or an activitybeing performed by a user of the mobile computing device 110. Forexample, the motion and/or activity sensor(s) may be embodied as one ormore accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, or other sensorsconfigured to sense various characteristics or parameters useful indetermining a motion of the mobile computing device 110 or an activityof a user of the mobile computing device 110.

The context sensor(s) 120 may also be embodied as, or otherwise include,one or more environmental sensors. The environmental sensor(s) may beembodied as any type of sensor capable of sensing characteristics orparameters of the local environment of the mobile computing device 110.For example, the environmental sensor(s) may be embodied as one or moretemperature sensors, light sensors, audio sensors, altitude sensors, orgas sensors. Additionally or alternatively, the environmental sensor(s)may be embodied as one or more visual sensors such as, for example,camera sensors (e.g., still camera sensors, video camera sensors, etc.)capable of capturing digital images and/or video of the localenvironment of the mobile computing device 110.

In some embodiments, context sensor(s) 120 may also be embodied as, orotherwise include, one or more communication sensors capable of sensingcharacteristics or parameters of communications between the mobilecomputing device 110 and the wearable computing device(s) 130. Forexample, in some embodiments, the communication sensor(s) may beembodied as one or more signal strength sensors configured to sense thewireless signal strength of one or more received communications from thewearable computing device(s) 130.

The data storage 122 may be embodied as any type of device or devicesconfigured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as, forexample, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard disk drives,solid-state drives, or other data storage devices. For example, the datastorage 122 may be configured to store one or more operating systems tobe initialized and/or executed by the mobile computing device 110. Insome embodiments, portions of the operating system(s) may be copied tothe memory 114 during operations for faster processing and/or any otherreason.

In some embodiments, the data storage 122 includes a context policydatabase 124. The context policy database 124 includes one or morerules. Each rule may define or otherwise specify a functionalityadjustment and/or a power state adjustment to be applied to the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 based on the context of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130, which as discussed in more detail below, may bedetermined by the mobile computing device 110 based at least in part on,or otherwise as a function of, sensor data generated by the mobilecomputing device 110 and sensor data generated by the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. In some embodiments, a rule of the context policydatabase 124 may define a functionality adjustment and/or a power stateadjustment to be applied to a wearable computing device 130 based on adetermined location (e.g., a physical location, a semantic location,etc.) of the mobile computing device 110 and/or the wearable computingdevice 130. For example, a rule of the context policy database 124 mayspecify that the functionality of a Bluetooth® headset (e.g., a wearablecomputing device 130) should be adjusted to provide heart ratemonitoring in response to determining that the Bluetooth® headset andthe mobile computing device 110 are located in a fitness facility. Inanother example, a different rule of the context policy database 124 mayspecify that the functionality of the Bluetooth® headset (e.g., thewearable computing device 130) should be adjusted to enable voice callsto be made or received in response to determining that the Bluetooth®headset and the mobile computing device 110 are located in a vehicle ora home. In yet another example, a different rule of the context policydatabase 124 may specify that the Bluetooth® headset (e.g., the wearablecomputing device 130) should be placed in a deep sleep mode in responseto determining that the Bluetooth® headset is placed on a table. Itshould be appreciated that the rules of the context policy database 124may define other functionality adjustments and/or power stateadjustments that should be applied to the wearable computing device(s)130 based on any other determined context.

As discussed, each rule of the context policy database 124 may define afunctionality adjustment and/or a power state adjustment to be appliedto the wearable computing device(s) 130 based on the determined contextof the wearable computing device(s) 130 and/or the determined context ofthe mobile computing device 110. In some embodiments, the functionalityadjustment and/or power state adjustment of one or more of the rules maybe embodied as one or more instructions or commands that may betransmitted to the wearable computing device(s) 130 based on thedetermined context. For example, in some embodiments, a rule of thecontext policy database 124 may include a functionality enableinstruction to cause the wearable computing device(s) 130 to initializea function based on the determined context and/or a functionalitydisable instruction to cause the wearable computing device(s) 130 toterminate a function based on the determined context. In anotherexample, the same rule or a different rule of the context policydatabase 124 may include a working power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device(s) 130 to enter an operational mode based onthe determined context, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device(s) 130 to enter a sleep mode based on thedetermined context, a suspend to disk power state instruction to causethe wearable computing device(s) to enter a hibernate mode based on thedetermined context, and/or a shutdown power state instruction to causethe wearable computing device(s) 130 to enter a powered down mode basedon the determined context.

The wearable computing device(s) 130 may be embodied as, or otherwiseinclude, any type of computing device configured to be worn, orotherwise carried, by a user and capable of performing the functionsdescribed herein including, but not limited to, a wrist-based computingdevice, a smart watch, an optical head-mounted display, a headsetdevice, a fitness tracker device, a mobile computing device, a mobilephone, a smart phone, a tablet computing device, a personal digitalassistant, a consumer electronic device, a laptop computing device, adesktop computer, and/or other type of computing device. In someembodiments, the wearable computing device 130 may be embedded in,attached to, or otherwise form a part of another wearable item (e.g., aheart rate monitor embedded in a shirt or other clothing item). As such,the wearable computing device(s) 130 may include devices and structurescommonly found in wearable computing devices or similar computingdevices such as processors, memory devices, and communication circuitry,which are not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity of the description. In theillustrative embodiment, the wearable computing device(s) 130 includeone or more local context sensors 132. In some embodiments, the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 also include a local data storage 134. The datastorage 134 may be configured to store, among other types of data,sensor data generated by the local context sensor(s) 132 fortransmission to the mobile computing device 110 at a later time.

The local context sensor(s) 132 may be embodied as any type of sensor ordevice capable of sensing and generating data indicative of a context ofthe wearable computing device(s) 130 and/or a user of the wearablecomputing device(s) 130. For example, the local context sensor(s) 132may be embodied as one or more location sensors capable of determiningthe current location (or a location context) of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. In another example, the local context sensor(s) 132 maybe embodied as one or more motion and/or activity sensors capable ofsensing characteristics or parameters indicative the motion of thewearable computing device(s) 130 or an activity being performed by auser of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Additionally, the localcontext sensor(s) 132 may be embodied as one or more environmentalsensors capable of sensing characteristics or parameters of the localenvironment of the wearable computing device(s) 130 and/or one or morevisual sensors capable of capturing digital images and/or video of thelocal environment of the wearable computing device(s) 130. In yetanother example, the local context sensor(s) 132 may be embodied as oneor more communication sensors capable of sensing characteristics orparameters of communications between the wearable computing device(s)130 and the mobile computing device 110. It should be appreciated thatsuch local context sensor(s) 132 may include similar structure andfunctionality to the corresponding context sensor(s) 120 discussed abovewith reference to the mobile computing device 110 and is not repeatedherein for clarity of the description.

In use, the wearable computing device(s) 130 may generate sensor dataindicative of a context (e.g., location context, relational context,etc.) of the wearable computing device(s) 130. The generated sensor datamay be occasionally, periodically, or responsively transmitted by thewearable computing device(s) 130 to the mobile computing device 110.Additionally, in some embodiments, the wearable computing device(s) 130may be configured to receive one or more management messages, which maybe transmitted by the mobile computing device 110 based on thedetermined context of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Themanagement messages may be embodied as one or more control messagesand/or notification messages. In response to receiving a control messagefrom the mobile computing device 110, the wearable computing device(s)130 may be configured to adjust (e.g., modify, reconfigure, etc.) itscurrent functionality and/or power state. Additionally or alternatively,the wearable computing device(s) 130 may be configured to display anotification indicative of an adjustment that should be made to itsfunctionality or power state based on receiving a notification messagefrom the mobile computing device 110.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in use, the mobile computing device establishesan environment 200 during operation. The illustrative environment 200includes a sensor data analysis module 202 and a remote devicemanagement module 212. In some embodiments, the sensor data analysismodule includes a sensor data fusing module 204 and a contextdetermination module 206. The context determination module 206 mayinclude a location context determination module 208 and a relationalcontext determination module 210 in some embodiments. Additionally, theremote device management module 212 may include a notification module214 in some embodiments. Each of the modules, logic, and othercomponents of the environment 200 may be embodied as hardware, software,firmware, or a combination thereof. For example, each of the modules,logic and other components of the environment 200 may form a portion of,or otherwise be established by, the processor 112 or other hardwarecomponents of the mobile computing device 110. It should be appreciatedthat the mobile computing device 110 may include other components,sub-components, modules, and devices commonly found in a computingdevice, which are not illustrated in FIG. 2 for clarity of thedescription.

The sensor data analysis module 202 is configured to periodically oroccasionally receive sensor data from the wearable computing device 130in some embodiments. The periodicity of receiving such transmissions maybe predefined in some embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, thesensor data analysis module 202 is configured to transmit aninterrogation signal or other signal to the wearable computing device130 prompting the wearable computing device 130 to transmit the sensordata in response.

In some embodiments, the sensor data received from the wearablecomputing device 130 may be indicative of a location context of thewearable computing device 130. For example, the sensor data receivedfrom the wearable computing device 130 may be indicative of the physicallocation or the absolute location (e.g., latitude, longitude, etc.) ofthe wearable computing device 130. Additionally or alternatively, thesensor data received from the wearable computing device 130 may beindicative of the semantic location (e.g., a home, an office, a store, afitness facility, an automobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, aconference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, acity street, etc.) of the wearable computing device 130.

The sensor data analysis module 202 may also receive sensor dataindicative of other contexts of the wearable computing device 130 basedon the particular type of local context sensor(s) 132 included in thewearable computing device 130. For example, in some embodiments, thesensor data analysis module 202 may receive sensor data indicative of awireless signal strength between the wearable computing device 130 andanother wearable computing device 130. Such sensor data may beindicative of the relative distance between the wearable computingdevice 130 and the other wearable computing device 130. Additionally oralternatively, the sensor data analysis module 202 may receive sensordata indicative the identity of other wearable computing devices 130 inproximity to and/or in communication with the wearable computing device130. Such sensor data may be indicative a relational context between thewearable computing device 130 and another wearable computing device 130.

In some embodiments, the sensor data analysis module 202 is configuredto fuse the sensor data received from the wearable computing device 130with sensor data generated by the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobilecomputing device 110. To do so, the sensor data analysis module 202 mayinclude the sensor data fusing module 204. The sensor data fusing module204 may be configured to fuse, combine, or otherwise aggregate thesensor data received from the wearable computing device 130 and thesensor data generated by the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobilecomputing device 110 according to any suitable sensor fusing and/orcombining process (e.g., Kalman filters, machine learning algorithmssuch as decision trees, a hidden Markov model for sequencedetermination, etc.). It should be appreciated that by fusing the sensordata received from the wearable computing device 130 with the sensordata generated by the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computingdevice 110, more accurate context determinations may be made concerningthe wearable computing device 130 and/or the mobile computing device110.

As discussed, in some embodiments, the sensor data analysis module 202also includes the context determination module 206. The contextdetermination module 206 is configured to determine the context of thewearable computing device 130 and/or the mobile computing device 110based on the fused sensor data. In some embodiments, the contextdetermination module 206 may include the location context determinationmodule 208. The location context determination module 208 may beconfigured to determine the location context of any of the wearablecomputing device 130, the mobile computing device 110, and/or one ormore other wearable computing devices 130 based on the fused sensordata. For example, in some embodiments, the location contextdetermination module 208 may use the fused sensor data to determinewhether the wearable computing device 130 is located in a referencelocation (e.g., a reference physical location and/or a referencesemantic location). In another example, the location contextdetermination module 208 may use the fused sensor data to determinewhether the wearable computing device 130 is located in one referencelocation, determine whether the mobile computing device 110 is locatedin another reference location, and determine whether a differentwearable computing device 130 is located in yet another referencelocation (e.g., a reference location different from the referencelocations of the wearable computing device 130 and the mobile computingdevice 110).

Additionally or alternatively, the location context determination module208 may be configured to determine a more accurate location context ofthe mobile computing device 110 based on the fused sensor data. Asdiscussed, in some embodiments, the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobilecomputing device 110 and the local context sensor(s) 132 of the wearablecomputing device 130 may generate data indicative of, or otherwise fordetermining, the physical location (e.g., latitude, longitude, etc.)and/or the semantic location (e.g., a home, an office, a store, afitness facility, an automobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, aconference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, acity street, etc.) of the mobile computing device 110 and the wearablecomputing device 130, respectively. In such embodiments, the locationcontext determination module 208 may use the fused location sensor datato determine the location of the mobile computing device 110. It shouldbe appreciated that by using the fused location sensor data, a moreaccurate location of the mobile computing device 110 may be determinedthan may have been possible using only location sensor data generated bythe context sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the context determination module 206includes the relational context determination module 210. The relationalcontext determination module 210 is configured to determine therelationship between the mobile computing device 110 and the wearablecomputing device 130 (or multiple wearable computing devices 130) basedon the fused sensor data. In such embodiments, the fused sensor data mayinclude or otherwise be indicative of a wireless signal strength betweenthe mobile computing device 110 and the wearable computing device(s) 130and between each of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Additionallyor alternatively, the fused sensor data may include or otherwise beindicative of the functionality of the wearable computing device(s) 130and the mobile computing device 110, the interoperability between themobile computing device 110 and each wearable computing device 130,and/or the particular type of each wearable computing device 130 (e.g.,smart watch, fitness device, wireless communication device, etc.).

The remote device management module 212 is configured to determinewhether the functionality and/or a power state of the wearable computingdevices 130 needs to be adjusted based on the determined context. To doso, the remote device management module 212 compares the determinedcontext to the context policy database 124. As discussed, the contextpolicy database 124 includes one or more rules. Each rule of the contextpolicy database 124 defines or otherwise specifies a functionalityadjustment and/or a power state adjustment to be applied to the wearablecomputing device 130 based on the determined context of the wearablecomputing device 130. In embodiments in which the remote devicemanagement module 212 determines that an adjustment to the functionalityand/or power state of the wearable computing device 130 is required, theremote device management module 212 is configured to generate one ormore management messages based on the context policy database 124.

In some embodiments, one or more of the management messages generated bythe remote device management module 212 includes or is otherwiseembodied as one or more control messages. In such embodiments, thecontrol message(s) include one or more functionality instructions (orcommands) and/or one or more power state instructions (or commands) forcausing the wearable computing device(s) 130 to adjust (e.g., modify,reconfigure, etc.) their current functionality and/or power state. Forexample, the one or more control messages may include a functionalityenable instruction to cause the wearable computing device(s) 130 toinitialize or allow initialization of a function, a functionalitydisable instruction to cause the wearable computing device(s) 130 toterminate or restrict initialization of a function, a working powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device 130 to enter anoperational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device 130 to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to diskpower state instruction to cause the wearable computing device 130 toenter a hibernate mode, and/or a shutdown power state instruction tocause the wearable computing device 130 to enter a powered down mode. Itshould be appreciated that the control message(s) generated by theremote device management module 212 may include other or additionalinstructions or commands to cause the wearable computing device(s) 130to adjust their current functionality and/or power state. In embodimentsin which one or more of the management messages include or are embodiedas control message(s), the remote device management module 212 isconfigured to transmit the control message(s) to the wearable computingdevice 130.

As discussed, in some embodiments, the remote device management module212 includes the notification module 214. The notification module 214 isconfigured to generate a notification message to be displayed by thewearable computing device 130. In some embodiments, the notificationmessage generated by the notification module 214 indicates to a userthat adjustment to the functionality and/or the power state of thewearable computing device 130 is required. In such embodiments, thenotification module 214 is configured to transmit the notificationmessage to the wearable computing device 130.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in use, the wearable computing device 130establishes an environment 300 during operation. The illustrativeenvironment 300 includes a remote device synchronization module 302 anda local device management module 304. Each of the modules, logic, andother components of the environment 300 may be embodied as hardware,software, firmware, or a combination thereof. For example, each of themodules, logic and other components of the environment 300 may form aportion of, or otherwise be established by, a processor or otherhardware components of the wearable computing device 130. It should beappreciated that the wearable computing device 130 may include othercomponents, sub-components, modules, and devices commonly found in awearable or portable computing device, which are not illustrated in FIG.3 for clarity of the description. Additionally, as discussed above, themobile computing device 110 may be in communication with any number ofwearable computing devices 130 in some embodiments. As such, it shouldbe understood that although each of the wearable computing devices 130may establish the illustrative environment 300 during operation, thefollowing discussion of that illustrative environment 300 is describedwith specific reference to a single wearable computing device 130 forclarity of the description.

The remote device synchronization module 302 is configured tooccasionally, periodically, or responsively transmit (e.g., send,broadcast, relay, etc.) the sensor data generated by the local contextsensor(s) 132 to the mobile computing device 110. For example, in someembodiments, the remote device synchronization module 302 may beconfigured to periodically transmit or broadcast the sensor data to themobile computing device based on a predefined reference interval.Additionally or alternatively, the remote device synchronization module302 may transmit the generated sensor data in response to aninterrogation signal or other signal received from the mobile computingdevice 110. The interrogation signal received from the mobile computingdevice 110 may prompt or otherwise instruct the remote devicesynchronization module 302 to transmit the generated sensor data. Asdiscussed, in some embodiments, the sensor data transmitted to themobile computing device 110 may be fused or otherwise combined withsensor data generated by the mobile computing device 110. In suchembodiments, the fused data may be used by the mobile computing device110 to determine a context of the wearable computing device 130 and/or amore accurate location of the mobile computing device 110.

The local device management module 304 is configured to determinewhether a management message received from the mobile computing device110 is embodied as or includes a control message or a notificationmessage. As discussed, in some embodiments, one or more of themanagement messages transmitted by the mobile computing device 110 maybe embodied as a control message having instructions (or commands) tocause the current functionality or power state of the wearable computingdevice 130 to be adjusted (e.g., modified, reconfigured, etc.). In suchembodiments, the local device management module 304 executes thefunctionality and/or power state instruction(s) and/or command(s)included in the control message to effect the adjustment. Additionallyor alternatively, one or more of the management messages transmitted bythe mobile computing device 110 may be embodied as a notificationmessage to indicate to a user of the wearable computing device 130 thatadjustment to the functionality and/or the power state of the wearablecomputing devices 130 is required. In some embodiments, the local devicemanagement module 304 is configured to display the notification messageto the user via a display of the wearable computing device 130.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in use, the mobile computing device 110 mayexecute a method 400 for context-based management of the wearablecomputing device 130. The method 400 begins with block 402 in which thecontext sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110 generate localsensor data. In some embodiments, in block 404, the context sensor(s)120 may generate local sensor data indicative of a location context ofthe mobile computing device 110. For example, in some embodiments, themobile computing device 110 may generate local sensor data indicativeof, or otherwise for determining, the physical location or the absolutelocation (e.g., latitude, longitude, etc.) of the mobile computingdevice 110. Additionally or alternatively, the mobile computing device110 may generate local sensor data indicative of, or otherwise fordetermining, the semantic location (e.g., a home, an office, a store, afitness facility, an automobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, aconference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, acity street, etc.) of the mobile computing device 110. Additionally oralternatively, in block 406, the context sensor(s) 120 may generatelocal sensor data indicative of a relational context of the mobilecomputing device 110. For example, in some embodiments, the contextsensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110 may generate localsensor data indicative of the presence of one or more wearable computingdevices 130 located within a reference distance to the mobile computingdevice 110. Additionally or alternatively, the context sensor(s) 120 ofthe mobile computing device 110 may generate local sensor dataindicative a wireless signal strength between the mobile computingdevice 110 and each of the wearable computing devices 130. The contextsensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110 may also generate localsensor data indicative of the interoperability and/or type of each thewearable computing devices 130. However, it should be appreciated thatthe particular type of local sensor data generated in block 402 may bebased on the particular type of context sensor(s) 120 included in themobile computing device 110.

In decision block 408, the mobile computing device 110 determineswhether sensor data is received from the one or more wearable computingdevices 130. In some embodiments, the sensor data received from thewearable computing device(s) 130 may be indicative of a location contextof the wearable computing device(s) 130. For example, the sensor datareceived from the wearable computing device(s) 130 may be indicative ofthe physical location or the absolute location (e.g., latitude,longitude, etc.) of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Additionallyor alternatively, the sensor data received from the wearable computingdevice(s) 130 may be indicative of the semantic location (e.g., a home,an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, a park, a livingroom, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hikingtrail, a highway, a city street, etc.) of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. The mobile computing device 110 may also receive othertypes of sensor data based on the particular type of local contextsensor(s) 132 included in the wearable computing device(s) 130. Forexample, in some embodiments, the mobile computing device 110 mayreceive sensor data from a wearable computing device 130 indicative of awireless communication signal strength between the wearable computingdevice 130 and a different wearable computing device 130 located inproximity to the wearable computing device 130. If the mobile computingdevice 110 determines that local sensor data is not received from thewearable computing device(s) 130 in decision block 408, the method 400subsequently loops back to block 402 in which the mobile computingdevice 110 continues generating sensor data. If, however, the mobilecomputing device 110 determines that sensor data is received from thewearable computing device(s) 130 in decision block 408, the method 400advances to block 410.

In block 410, the mobile computing device 110 fuses, combines, orotherwise aggregates the sensor data received from the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 and the sensor data generated by the contextsensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110. To do so, the mobilecomputing device 110 uses any suitable sensor fusing and/or combiningprocess (e.g., Kalman filters, machine learning algorithms such asdecision trees, a hidden Markov model for sequence determination, etc.).It should be appreciated that by fusing the sensor data received fromthe wearable computing device 130 with the sensor data generated by thecontext sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110, the mobilecomputing device 110 may make more accurate determinations as to thecontext of the mobile computing device 110 and/or the wearable computingdevice(s) 130.

In block 412, the mobile computing device 110 may determine or infer acontext of the wearable computing device(s) 130. As discussed above, thedetermination of the context of the wearable computing device(s) 130 maybe based on the fused sensor data including the sensor data receivedfrom the wearable computing device(s) 130 and the sensor data generatedby the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110. Forexample, in some embodiments, the mobile computing device 110 maydetermine the location of the wearable computing device(s) 130 based onthe fused sensor data. As a further example, the mobile computing device110 may determine the distance between the wearable computing device(s)130 and the mobile computing device 110 and/or the distance between eachof the wearable computing devices(s) 130 based on the fused sensor data.Additionally, the mobile computing device 110 may determine the distancebetween the wearable computing device(s) 130 and the mobile computingdevice 110 based on the fused sensor data. In yet another example, themobile computing device 110 may determine the relationship between themobile computing device 110 and more than one wearable computing device130 based on the fused sensor data. Of course, the mobile computingdevice 110 may determine or infer other contexts of the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 based on the fused sensor data and/or other datain other embodiments.

In block 414, the mobile computing device 110 determines whether thefunctionality and/or a power state of the wearable computing device(s)130 needs to be adjusted based on the determined context. To do so, themobile computing device 110 compares the determined context to thecontext policy database 124. The context policy database 124 includesone or more rules. As discussed, each rule of the context policydatabase 124 defines or otherwise specifies a functionality adjustmentand/or a power state adjustment to be applied to the wearable computingdevice(s) 130 based on the determined context of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. For example, in some embodiments, a rule of the contextpolicy database 124 may define a functionality adjustment and/or a powerstate adjustment to be applied to a wearable computing device 130 basedon a determined location (e.g., a physical location, a semanticlocation, etc.) of the mobile computing device 110 and the wearablecomputing device 130. For instance, the rule may specify that a wearablecomputing device 130 should be placed in a sleep mode and/or enter alimited functionality mode in response to the mobile computing device110 determining that the wearable computing device 130 is located on atable or in a drawer. In another example, a different rule of thecontext policy database 124 may define a functionality adjustment and/ora power state adjustment to be applied a wearable computing device 130based on the relative locations of the wearable computing device 130 andthe mobile computing device 110. For instance, the rule may specify thata wearable computing device 130 should be placed in a sleep mode and/orenter a limited functionality mode in response to the mobile computingdevice 110 determining that the distance between the wearable computingdevice 130 and the mobile computing device 110 exceeds a referencedistance.

Additionally or alternatively, a rule of the context policy database 124may define a functionality adjustment and/or a power state adjustment tobe applied to a wearable computing device 130 based on the relationshipsand relative locations of multiple wearable computing devices 130 andthe mobile computing device 110. For instance, the rule may specify thatone of the wearable computing devices 130 should provide a particularset of functions (e.g., communicate with another wearable computingdevice 130) in response to the mobile computing device 110 determiningthat the distance between the wearable computing device 130 and themobile computing device 110 exceeds a reference distance. The same or adifferent rule may specify that the same wearable computing device 130should provide a different set of functions (e.g., communicate directlywith the mobile computing device 110) in response to the mobilecomputing device 110 determining that the distance between the wearablecomputing device 130 and the mobile computing device 110 does not exceedthe reference distance.

For example, in one specific embodiment, a user may be wearing multiplewearable computing devices 130 such as a heart rate monitoring headsetand a smart watch while exercising at a fitness facility. In suchembodiment, one rule of the context policy database 124 may specify thatthe heart rate monitoring headset should be configured to transmit orstream heart rate information to the smart watch while the user's mobilecomputing device 110 is located in a gym bag or a locker. The same or adifferent rule of the context policy database 124 may specify that theheart rate monitoring headset should instead be configured to transmitor stream the heart rate information to the user's mobile computingdevice 110 for more sophisticated data profiling and analysis inresponse to the mobile computing device 110 being removed from the gymbag or locker. It should be appreciated that the rules of the contextpolicy database 124 may define other functionality adjustments and/orpower state adjustments that should be applied to the wearable computingdevice(s) 130 based on any other determined context.

In decision block 416, the mobile computing device 110 determineswhether an adjustment to the functionality and/or the power state of thewearable computing device(s) 130 is required based the comparison of thedetermined context to the context policy database 124. If the mobilecomputing device 110 determines in decision block 416 that an adjustmentis not required, the method 400 loops back to block 402 and the mobilecomputing device 110 continues generating local sensor data. If,however, the mobile computing device 110 determines instead that anadjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device(s) 130is required, the method 400 advances to block 418.

In block 418, the mobile computing device 110 is configured to managethe functionality and/or the power state of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. To do so, the mobile computing device 110 generates oneor more management messages. In some embodiments, the one or moremanagement messages may be embodied as one or more control messages. Insuch embodiments, the control message(s) includes one or morefunctionality instructions (or commands) and/or one or more power stateinstructions (or commands) for causing the wearable computing device(s)130 to adjust (e.g., modify, reconfigure, etc.) their currentfunctionality and/or power state. For example, the one or more controlmessages may include a functionality enable instruction to cause thewearable computing device(s) 130 to initialize a function, afunctionality disable instruction to cause the wearable computingdevice(s) 130 to terminate a function, a working power state instructionto cause the wearable computing device 130 to enter an operational mode,a standby power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device130 to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction tocause the wearable computing device 130 to enter a hibernate mode,and/or a shutdown power state instruction to cause the wearablecomputing device 130 to enter a powered down mode. It should beappreciated that the control message(s) generated by the mobilecomputing device 110 may include any other instruction or command tocause the wearable computing device(s) 130 to adjust their currentfunctionality and/or power state. In some embodiments, in block 420, themobile computing device 110 transmits the control message(s) to one ormore of the wearable computing devices 130.

Additionally or alternatively, the one or more management messagesgenerated by the mobile computing device 110 may be embodied as one ormore notification messages. In some embodiments, the notificationmessage(s) generated by the mobile computing device 110 are to bedisplayed to a user of the wearable computing device(s) 130 to indicateto the user that adjustment to the functionality and/or a power state ofthe wearable computing device(s) 130 are required. In some embodiments,in block 422, the mobile computing device 110 transmits thenotifications message(s) to one or more of the wearable computingdevices 130 to be displayed.

Referring now to FIG. 5, in use, the mobile computing device 110 mayexecute a method 500 for determining a location. The method 500 beginswith block 502 in which the context sensor(s) 120 of the mobilecomputing device 110 generate local sensor data. In some embodiments, inblock 504, the context sensor(s) 120 may generate local sensor dataindicative of a location context of the mobile computing device 110. Forexample, in some embodiments, the mobile computing device 110 maygenerate local sensor data indicative of, or otherwise for determining,the physical location or the absolute location (e.g., latitude,longitude, etc.) of the mobile computing device 110. Additionally oralternatively, the mobile computing device 110 may generate local sensordata indicative of, or otherwise for determining, the semantic location(e.g., a home, an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, apark, a living room, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, acafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, a city street, etc.) of the mobilecomputing device 110. As discussed above, the particular type of localsensor data generated in block 502 may be based on the particular typeof context sensor(s) 120 included in the mobile computing device 110.

In decision block 506, the mobile computing device 110 determineswhether sensor data is received from the one or more wearable computingdevices 130. In some embodiments, sensor data received from the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 may be indicative of a location context of thewearable computing device(s) 130. For example, the sensor data receivedfrom the wearable computing device(s) 130 may be indicative of thephysical location or the absolute location (e.g., latitude, longitude,etc.) of the wearable computing device(s) 130. Additionally oralternatively, the sensor data received from the wearable computingdevice(s) 130 may be indicative of the semantic location (e.g., a home,an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, a park, a livingroom, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hikingtrail, a highway, a city street, etc.) of the wearable computingdevice(s) 130. As discussed above, the mobile computing device 110 mayreceive other types of sensor data based on the particular type of localcontext sensor(s) 132 included in the wearable computing device(s) 130.If the mobile computing device 110 determines that local sensor data isnot received from the wearable computing device(s) 130 in decision block506, the method 500 subsequently loops back to decision block 506 inwhich the mobile computing device 110 continues determining whetherlocal sensor data is received. If, however, the mobile computing device110 determines that local sensor data is received from the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 in decision block 506, the method 500 advancesto block 508.

In block 508, the mobile computing device 110 fuses, combines, orotherwise aggregates the sensor data received from the wearablecomputing device(s) 130 and the sensor data generated by the contextsensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110. To do so, the mobilecomputing device uses any suitable sensor fusing and/or combiningprocess (e.g., Kalman filters, machine learning algorithms such asdecision trees, a hidden Markov model for sequence determination, etc.).Subsequently, the method 500 advances to block 510 in which the mobilecomputing device 110 may determine a current location based on the fuseddata. It should be appreciated that by fusing the sensor data receivedfrom the wearable computing device 130 with the sensor data generated bythe context sensor(s) 120 of the mobile computing device 110, the mobilecomputing device 110 may make more accurate determinations as to thelocation of the mobile computing device 110.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in use, the wearable computing device 130 mayexecute a method 600 for generating sensor data. The method 600 beginswith block 602 in which the local context sensor(s) 132 generate sensordata. In some embodiments, in block 604, the local context sensor(s) 132may generate sensor data indicative of a location context of thewearable computing device 130. For example, in some embodiments, thewearable computing device 130 may generate sensor data indicative of, orotherwise for determining, the physical location or the absolutelocation (e.g., latitude, longitude, etc.) of the wearable computingdevice 130. Additionally or alternatively, the wearable computing device130 may generate sensor data indicative of, or otherwise fordetermining, the semantic location (e.g., a home, an office, a store, afitness facility, an automobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, aconference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, acity street, etc.) of the wearable computing device 130. In someembodiments, the local context sensor(s) 132 may also generate othertypes of sensor data based on the particular type of local contextsensor(s) 132 included in the wearable computing device 130. Forexample, in some embodiments, the local context sensor(s) 132 maygenerate sensor data indicative of a wireless communication signalstrength between the wearable computing device 130 and a differentwearable computing device 130 located in proximity to the wearablecomputing device 130.

In decision block 606, the wearable computing device 130 determineswhether to transmit the sensor data generated in block 602 to the mobilecomputing device 110. As discussed above, the wearable computing device130 may transmit the sensor data occasionally, periodically, orresponsively. For example, in some embodiments, the wearable computingdevice 130 may be configured to periodically transmit or broadcast thesensor data. The periodicity of such transmissions may be predefined insome embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, the wearable computingdevice 130 may transmit the sensor data in response to an interrogationsignal or other signal prompting the wearable computing device 130 totransmit the sensor data. The wearable computing device 130 may receivesuch an interrogation signal or other signal from the mobile computingdevice 110 in some embodiments.

If the wearable computing device 130 determines not to transmit thesensor data in decision block 606, the method 600 advances to block 608.In some embodiments, in block 608, the wearable computing device 130 maystore the sensor data in the local data storage 134 in response to adetermination not to transmit the data. In this way, the wearablecomputing device 130 may store sensor data over a time period andsubsequently transmit an accumulation of sensor data later in time.Alternatively, in other embodiments, the wearable computing device 130may not store the sensor data in block 608, in which case theun-transmitted sensor data may be ignored. Regardless, the method 600subsequently loops back to block 602 in which the local contextsensor(s) 132 generate additional sensor data.

Referring back to decision block 606, if the wearable computing device130 determines that the sensor data should be transmitted, the method600 advances to block 610 in which the wearable computing device 130transmits the sensor data to the mobile computing device 110. Asdiscussed above, the wearable computing device 130 may transmit thesensor data by transmitting (e.g., sending, broadcasting, relaying,etc.) the sensor data to the mobile computing device 110. In someembodiments, the wearable computing device 130 may transmit the sensordata as it is generated in real-time or near real-time. However, inembodiments in which sensor data is stored in the data storage 134, thewearable computing device 130 may retrieve the stored data from the datastorage 134 and subsequently transmit the stored data in block 612.After transmission of the sensor data to the mobile computing device110, the method 600 loops back to block 602 in which the local contextsensor(s) 132 generate additional sensor data.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in use, the wearable computing device 130 mayexecute a method 700 for context-based control of the wearable computingdevice 130. The method 700 begins with decision block 702 in which thewearable computing device 130 determines whether a management message isreceived from the mobile computing device 110. As discussed above, themobile computing device 110 may transmit a management message to thewearable computing device 130 in response to determining, based on thecontext of the wearable computing device 130, that an adjustment to thefunctionality and/or the current power state of the wearable computingdevice 130 is required. If the wearable computing device 130 determinesthat a management message is not received from the mobile computingdevice 110 in decision block 702, the method 700 subsequently loops backto decision block 702 in which the wearable computing device 130continues determining whether a management message is received. If,however, the wearable computing device 130 determines that a managementmessage is received from the mobile computing device 110 in decisionblock 702, the method 700 advances to decision block 704.

In decision block 704, the wearable computing device 130 determineswhether the management message received from the mobile computing device110 is a control message. That is, the wearable computing device 130determines whether the received management message includes one or morefunctionality instructions (or commands) and/or one or more power stateinstructions (or commands) for causing the wearable computing device 130to adjust (e.g., modify, reconfigure, etc.) its current functionalityand/or power state. As discussed, in some embodiments, the controlmessage may include a functionality enable instruction to cause thewearable computing device 130 to initialize a function, a functionalitydisable instruction to cause the wearable computing device 130 toterminate a function, a working power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device 130 to enter an operational mode, a standbypower state instruction to cause the wearable computing device 130 toenter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction to causethe wearable computing device 130 to enter a hibernate mode, and/or ashutdown power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device130 to enter a powered down mode. It should be appreciated that acontrol message received from the mobile computing device 110 mayinclude any other instruction or command to cause the wearable computingdevice 130 to adjust its current functionality and/or power state. Ifthe wearable computing device 130 determines that the management messagereceived from the mobile computing device 110 is a control message indecision block 704, the method 700 advances to block 706 in which thewearable computing device 130 adjusts its current functionality and/orpower state based at least in part on the control message. To do so, thewearable computing device 130 executes the functionality and/or powerstate instruction(s) and/or command(s) included in the control message.

Referring back to decision block 704, if the wearable computing device130 determines that the management message received from the mobilecomputing device 110 is not a control message, the method 700 advancesto decision block 708. In decision block 708, the wearable computingdevice 130 determines whether the management message received from themobile computing device 110 is a notification message. If the wearablecomputing device 130 determines that the management message receivedfrom the mobile computing device 110 is not a notification message, themethod 700 loops back to decision block 702 in which the managementmessage is ignored and the wearable computing device 130 determineswhether another management message is received from the mobile computingdevice 110. If, however, the wearable computing device 130 determinesthat the management message received from the mobile computing device110 is a notification message in decision block 708, the method 700subsequently advances to block 710 in which the wearable computingdevice 130 displays the notification message on a display to indicate toa user that adjustment to the functionality and/or the power state ofthe wearable computing device 130 is required.

EXAMPLES

Illustrative examples of the technologies disclosed herein are providedbelow. An embodiment of the technologies may include any one or more,and any combination of, the examples described below.

Example 1 includes a mobile computing device for context-basedmanagement of a wearable computing device, the mobile computing deviceincluding a context sensor to generate first sensor data indicative of afirst location context of the mobile computing device; a sensor dataanalysis module to (i) receive second sensor data from the wearablecomputing device, wherein the second sensor data is indicative of asecond location context of the wearable computing device, (ii) fuse thefirst sensor data and the second sensor data to generate fused sensordata, and (iii) determine a context of the wearable computing devicebased on the fused sensor data; and a remote device management module to(i) determine whether an adjustment to functionality of the wearablecomputing device is required based on the determined context and (ii)manage the functionality of the wearable computing device in response toa determination that the adjustment to the functionality is required.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and wherein toreceive the second sensor data indicative of the second location contextof the wearable computing device includes to periodically receive thesecond sensor data transmitted by the wearable computing device.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 and 2, andwherein the sensor data analysis module is further to transmit aninterrogation signal to the wearable computing device, and wherein toreceive the second sensor data indicative of the second location contextof the wearable computing device includes to receive the second sensordata from the wearable computing device in response to the interrogationsignal.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3, andwherein to manage the functionality of the wearable computing deviceincludes to transmit a control message to the wearable computing deviceto adjust the functionality of the wearable computing device.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4, andwherein to manage the functionality of the wearable computing deviceincludes to transmit a notification message to the wearable computingdevice to be displayed, wherein the notification message indicates thatadjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device isrequired.

Example 6 includes the subject matter 1-5, and wherein to fuse the firstsensor data and the second sensor data includes to combine the firstsensor data and the second sensor data via at least one of a Kalmanfilter, a decision tree, or a hidden Markov model.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6, andwherein to determine the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes to determine, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located in a reference location.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7, andwherein to determine whether the wearable computing device is located inthe reference location includes to determine, based on the fused sensordata, whether the wearable computing device is located in a referencephysical location.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8, andwherein to determine whether the wearable computing device is located inthe reference location includes to determine, based on the fused sensordata, whether the wearable computing device is located in a referencesemantic location.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9, andwherein the reference semantic location includes at least one of a home,an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, a park, a livingroom, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hikingtrail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10, andwherein to determine the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes to determine, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located within a reference distance to themobile computing device.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11, andwherein the sensor data analysis module is further to receive thirdsensor data from a different wearable computing device, wherein thethird sensor data is indicative of a third location context of thedifferent wearable computing device, and wherein to fuse the firstsensor data and the second sensor data to generate the fused sensor dataincludes to fuse the third sensor data received from the differentwearable computing device with the first sensor data and the secondsensor data to generate the fused sensor data.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12, andwherein to determine the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes to determine, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located in a first reference location;determine, based on the fused sensor data, whether the mobile computingdevice is located in a second reference location; and determine, basedon the fused sensor data, whether the different wearable computingdevice is located in a third reference location.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-13, andwherein the context sensor is further to generate fourth sensor dataindicative of a relational context between the mobile computing device,the wearable computing device, and the different wearable computingdevice, and wherein to determine the context of the wearable computingdevice includes to determine, based on the fused sensor data and thefourth sensor data, whether the wearable computing device is (i) locatedwithin a first reference distance to the mobile computing device and(ii) located within a second reference distance to the differentwearable computing device.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-14, andwherein the context sensor is further to generate fourth sensor dataindicative of (i) a first wireless signal strength between the mobilecomputing device and the wearable computing device and (ii) a secondwireless signal strength between the mobile computing device and adifferent wearable computing device; wherein the sensor data analysismodule is further to receive fifth sensor data from the wearablecomputing device, wherein the fifth sensor data is indicative of a thirdwireless signal strength between the wearable computing device and thedifferent wearable computing device; wherein to fuse the first sensordata, the second sensor data, and the third sensor data to generate thefused sensor data includes to fuse the fourth sensor data generated bythe mobile computing device and the fifth sensor data received from thewearable computing device with the first sensor data, the second sensordata, and the third sensor data to generate the fused sensor data; andwherein to determine the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes to determine, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is (i) located within a first referencedistance to the mobile computing device and (ii) located within a secondreference distance to the different wearable computing device.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-15, andwherein the remote device management module is further to (i) determinewhether a separate adjustment to a power state of the wearable computingdevice is required based on the determined context and (ii) manage thepower state of the wearable computing device in response to adetermination that the separate adjustment to the power state isrequired.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-16, andwherein to determine whether the adjustment to the functionality of thewearable computing device is required and to determine whether theseparate adjustment to the power state of the wearable computing deviceis required includes to compare the determined context to one or morerules of a context policy database, each of the one or more rules of thecontext policy database defines at least one of a functionalityadjustment or a power state adjustment to be applied to the wearablecomputing device based on a different determined context of the wearablecomputing device.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-17, andwherein the functionality adjustment includes at least one of afunctionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing deviceto initialize a function or a functionality disable instruction to causethe wearable computing device to terminate a function.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-18, andwherein the power state adjustment includes at least one of a workingpower state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enteran operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 20 includes a method for context-based management of a wearablecomputing device, the method including generating, by a mobile computingdevice, first sensor data indicative of a first location context of themobile computing device; receiving, by the mobile computing device andfrom the wearable computing device, second sensor data indicative of asecond location context of the wearable computing device; fusing, by themobile computing device, the first sensor data and the second sensordata to generate fused sensor data; determining, by the mobile computingdevice, a context of the wearable computing device based on the fusedsensor data; determining, by the mobile computing device, whether anadjustment to functionality of the wearable computing device is requiredbased on the determined context; and managing, by the mobile computingdevice, the functionality of the wearable computing device in responseto a determination that the adjustment to the functionality is required.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and whereinreceiving the second sensor data indicative of the second locationcontext of the wearable computing device includes periodically receivingthe second sensor data transmitted by the wearable computing device.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20 and 21, andfurther including transmitting, by the mobile computing device, aninterrogation signal to the wearable computing device, and whereinreceiving the second sensor data indicative of the second locationcontext of the wearable computing device includes receiving the secondsensor data from the wearable computing device in response to theinterrogation signal.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-22, andwherein managing the functionality of the wearable computing deviceincludes transmitting a control message to the wearable computing deviceto adjust the functionality of the wearable computing device.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-23, andwherein managing the functionality of the wearable computing deviceincludes transmitting a notification message to the wearable computingdevice to be displayed, wherein the notification message indicates thatadjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device isrequired.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-24, andwherein fusing the first sensor data and the second sensor data includescombining the first sensor data and the second sensor data via at leastone of a Kalman filter, a decision tree, or a hidden Markov model.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-25, andwherein determining the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located in a reference location.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-26, andwherein determining whether the wearable computing device is located inthe reference location includes determining, based on the fused sensordata, whether the wearable computing device is located in a referencephysical location.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-27, andwherein determining whether the wearable computing device is located inthe reference location includes determining, based on the fused sensordata, whether the wearable computing device is located in a referencesemantic location.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-28, andwherein the reference semantic location includes at least one of a home,an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, a park, a livingroom, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hikingtrail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-29, andwherein determining the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located within a reference distance to themobile computing device.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-30, andfurther including receiving, by the mobile computing device and from adifferent wearable computing device, third sensor data indicative of athird location context of the different wearable computing device, andwherein fusing the first sensor data and the second sensor data togenerate the fused sensor data includes fusing the third sensor datareceived from the different wearable computing device with the firstsensor data and the second sensor data to generate the fused sensordata.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-31, andwherein determining the context of the wearable computing deviceincludes (i) determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether thewearable computing device is located in a first reference location, (ii)determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether the mobilecomputing device is located in a second reference location, and (iii)determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether the differentwearable computing device is located in a third reference location.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-32, andfurther including generating, by the mobile computing device, fourthsensor data indicative of a relational context between the mobilecomputing device, the wearable computing device, and the differentwearable computing device, and wherein determining the context of thewearable computing device includes determining, based on the fusedsensor data and the fourth sensor data, whether the wearable computingdevice is (i) located within a first reference distance to the mobilecomputing device and (ii) located within a second reference distance tothe different wearable computing device.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-33, andfurther including generating, by the mobile computing device, fourthsensor data indicative of (i) a first wireless signal strength betweenthe mobile computing device and the wearable computing device and (ii) asecond wireless signal strength between the mobile computing device anda different wearable computing device; and receiving, by the mobilecomputing device and from the wearable computing device, fifth sensordata indicative of a third wireless signal strength between the wearablecomputing device and the different wearable computing device, andwherein fusing the first sensor data, the second sensor data, and thethird sensor data to generate the fused sensor data includes fusing thefourth sensor data generated by the mobile computing device and thefifth sensor data received from the wearable computing device with thefirst sensor data, the second sensor data, and the third sensor data togenerate the fused sensor data, and wherein determining the context ofthe wearable computing device includes determining, based on the fusedsensor data, whether the wearable computing device is (i) located withina first reference distance to the mobile computing device and (ii)located within a second reference distance to the different wearablecomputing device.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-34, andfurther including determining, by the mobile computing device, whether aseparate adjustment to a power state of the wearable computing device isrequired based on the determined context; and managing, by the mobilecomputing device, the power state of the wearable computing device inresponse to a determination that the separate adjustment to the powerstate is required.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-35, andwherein determining whether the adjustment to the functionality of thewearable computing device is required and determining whether theseparate adjustment to the power state of the wearable computing deviceis required includes comparing the determined context to one or morerules of a context policy database, each of the one or more rules of thecontext policy database defines at least one of a functionalityadjustment or a power state adjustment to be applied to the wearablecomputing device based on a different determined context of the wearablecomputing device.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-36, andwherein the functionality adjustment includes at least one of afunctionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing deviceto initialize a function or a functionality disable instruction to causethe wearable computing device to terminate a function.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 20-37, andwherein the power state adjustment includes at least one of a workingpower state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enteran operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 39 includes a mobile computing device for context-basedmanagement of a wearable computing device, the mobile computing deviceincluding a processor; and a memory having stored therein a plurality ofinstructions that when executed by the processor cause the mobilecomputing device to perform the method of any of Examples 20-38.

Example 40 includes one or more machine-readable media having aplurality of instructions stored thereon that in response to beingexecuted result in a mobile computing device performing the method ofany of Examples 20-38.

Example 41 includes a mobile computing device for context-basedmanagement of a wearable computing device, the mobile computing deviceincluding means for generating first sensor data indicative of a firstlocation context of the mobile computing device; means for receivingsecond sensor data from the wearable computing device, wherein thesecond sensor data is indicative of a second location context of thewearable computing device; means for fusing the first sensor data andthe second sensor data to generate fused sensor data; means fordetermining a context of the wearable computing device based on thefused sensor data; means for determining whether an adjustment tofunctionality of the wearable computing device is required based on thedetermined context; and means for managing the functionality of thewearable computing device in response to a determination that theadjustment to the functionality is required.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 41, and wherein themeans for receiving the second sensor data indicative of the secondlocation context of the wearable computing device includes means forperiodically receiving the second sensor data transmitted by thewearable computing device.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41 and 42, andfurther including means for transmitting an interrogation signal to thewearable computing device, and wherein the means for receiving thesecond sensor data indicative of the second location context of thewearable computing device includes means for receiving the second sensordata from the wearable computing device in response to the interrogationsignal.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-43, andwherein the means for managing the functionality of the wearablecomputing device includes means for transmitting a control message tothe wearable computing device to adjust the functionality of thewearable computing device.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-44, andwherein the means for managing the functionality of the wearablecomputing device includes means for transmitting a notification messageto the wearable computing device to be displayed, wherein thenotification message indicates that adjustment to the functionality ofthe wearable computing device is required.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-45, andwherein the means for fusing the first sensor data and the second sensordata includes means for combining the first sensor data and the secondsensor data via at least one of a Kalman filter, a decision tree, or ahidden Markov model.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-46, andwherein the means for determining the context of the wearable computingdevice includes means for determining, based on the fused sensor data,whether the wearable computing device is located in a referencelocation.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-47, andwherein the means for determining whether the wearable computing deviceis located in the reference location includes means for determining,based on the fused sensor data, whether the wearable computing device islocated in a reference physical location.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-48, andwherein the means for determining whether the wearable computing deviceis located in the reference location includes means for determining,based on the fused sensor data, whether the wearable computing device islocated in a reference semantic location.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-49, andwherein the reference semantic location includes at least one of a home,an office, a store, a fitness facility, an automobile, a park, a livingroom, a kitchen, a conference room, a cubicle, a cafeteria, a hikingtrail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-50, andwherein the means for determining the context of the wearable computingdevice includes means for determining, based on the fused sensor data,whether the wearable computing device is located within a referencedistance to the mobile computing device.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-51, andfurther including means for receiving third sensor data from a differentwearable computing device, wherein the third sensor data is indicativeof a third location context of the different wearable computing device,and wherein the means for fusing the first sensor data and the secondsensor data to generate the fused sensor data includes means for fusingthe third sensor data received from the different wearable computingdevice with the first sensor data and the second sensor data to generatethe fused sensor data.

Example 53 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-52, andwherein the means for determining the context of the wearable computingdevice includes (i) means for determining, based on the fused sensordata, whether the wearable computing device is located in a firstreference location, (ii) means for determining, based on the fusedsensor data, whether the mobile computing device is located in a secondreference location, and (iii) means for determining, based on the fusedsensor data, whether the different wearable computing device is locatedin a third reference location.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-53, andfurther including means for generating fourth sensor data indicative ofa relational context between the mobile computing device, the wearablecomputing device, and the different wearable computing device, andwherein the means for determining the context of the wearable computingdevice includes means for determining, based on the fused sensor dataand the fourth sensor data, whether the wearable computing device is (i)located within a first reference distance to the mobile computing deviceand (ii) located within a second reference distance to the differentwearable computing device.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-54, andfurther including means for generating fourth sensor data indicative of(i) a first wireless signal strength between the mobile computing deviceand the wearable computing device and (ii) a second wireless signalstrength between the mobile computing device and a different wearablecomputing device; and means for receiving fifth sensor data from thewearable computing device, wherein the fifth sensor data is indicativeof a third wireless signal strength between the wearable computingdevice and the different wearable computing device, and wherein themeans for fusing the first sensor data, the second sensor data, and thethird sensor data to generate the fused sensor data includes means forfusing the fourth sensor data generated by the mobile computing deviceand the fifth sensor data received from the wearable computing devicewith the first sensor data, the second sensor data, and the third sensordata to generate the fused sensor data, and wherein the means fordetermining the context of the wearable computing device includes meansfor determining, based on the fused sensor data, whether the wearablecomputing device is (i) located within a first reference distance to themobile computing device and (ii) located within a second referencedistance to the different wearable computing device.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-55, andfurther including means for determining whether a separate adjustment toa power state of the wearable computing device is required based on thedetermined context; and means for managing the power state of thewearable computing device in response to a determination that theseparate adjustment to the power state is required.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-56, andwherein the means for determining whether the adjustment to thefunctionality of the wearable computing device is required and the meansfor determining whether the separate adjustment to the power state ofthe wearable computing device is required includes means for comparingthe determined context to one or more rules of a context policydatabase, each of the one or more rules of the context policy databasedefines at least one of a functionality adjustment or a power stateadjustment to be applied to the wearable computing device based on adifferent determined context of the wearable computing device.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-57, andwherein the functionality adjustment includes at least one of afunctionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing deviceto initialize a function or a functionality disable instruction to causethe wearable computing device to terminate a function.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 41-58, andwherein the power state adjustment includes at least one of a workingpower state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enteran operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 60 includes a mobile computing device to determine a location ofthe mobile computing device, the mobile computing device including acontext sensor to generate first sensor data indicative of a firstlocation context of the mobile computing device; a sensor data analysismodule to (i) receive second sensor data from a wearable computingdevice, wherein the second sensor data is indicative of a secondlocation context of the wearable computing device, (ii) fuse the firstsensor data and the second sensor data to generate fused sensor data,and (iii) determine the location of the mobile computing device based onthe fused sensor data.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of Example 60, and wherein todetermine the location of the mobile computing device includes todetermine a physical location of the mobile computing device based onthe fused sensor data.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 60 and 61, andwherein to determine the location of the mobile computing deviceincludes to determine a semantic location of the mobile computing devicebased on the fused sensor data.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 60-62, andwherein the semantic location of the mobile computing device includes atleast one of a home, an office, a store, a fitness facility, anautomobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, a conference room, acubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 60-63, andwherein the sensor data analysis module is further to receive thirdsensor data from a different wearable computing device, wherein thethird sensor data is indicative of a third location context of thedifferent wearable computing device, and wherein to fuse the firstsensor data and the second sensor data to generate the fused sensor dataincludes to fuse the third sensor data received from the differentwearable computing device with the first sensor data and the secondsensor data to generate the fused sensor data.

Example 65 includes a method for determining a location of a mobilecomputing device, the method including generating, by the mobilecomputing device, first sensor data indicative of a first locationcontext of the mobile computing device; receiving, by the mobilecomputing device and from a wearable computing device, second sensordata indicative of a second location context of the wearable computingdevice; fusing, by the mobile computing device, the first sensor dataand the second sensor data to generate fused sensor data; anddetermining, by the mobile computing device, the location of the mobilecomputing device based on the fused sensor data.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of Example 65, and whereindetermining the location of the mobile computing device includesdetermining a physical location of the mobile computing device based onthe fused sensor data.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 65 and 66, andwherein determining the location of the mobile computing device includesdetermining a semantic location of the mobile computing device based onthe fused sensor data.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 65-67, andwherein the semantic location of the mobile computing device includes atleast one of a home, an office, a store, a fitness facility, anautomobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, a conference room, acubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 65-68, andfurther including receiving, by the mobile computing device and from adifferent wearable computing device, third sensor data indicative of athird location context of the different wearable computing device, andwherein fusing the first sensor data and the second sensor data togenerate the fused sensor data includes fusing the third sensor datareceived from the different wearable computing device with the firstsensor data and the second sensor data to generate the fused sensordata.

Example 70 includes a mobile computing device to determine a location ofthe mobile computing device, the mobile computing device including aprocessor; and a memory having stored therein a plurality ofinstructions that when executed by the processor cause the mobilecomputing device to perform the method of any of Examples 65-69.

Example 71 includes one or more machine-readable media having aplurality of instructions stored thereon that in response to beingexecuted result in a mobile computing device performing the method ofany of Examples 65-69.

Example 72 includes a mobile computing device to determine a location ofthe mobile computing device, the mobile computing device including meansfor generating first sensor data indicative of a first location contextof the mobile computing device; means for receiving second sensor datafrom a wearable computing device, wherein the second sensor data isindicative of a second location context of the wearable computingdevice; means for fusing the first sensor data and the second sensordata to generate fused sensor data; and means for determining thelocation of the mobile computing device based on the fused sensor data.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of Example 72, and wherein themeans for determining the location of the mobile computing deviceincludes means for determining a physical location of the mobilecomputing device based on the fused sensor data.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 72 and 73, andwherein the means for determining the location of the mobile computingdevice includes means for determining a semantic location of the mobilecomputing device based on the fused sensor data.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 72-74, andwherein the semantic location of the mobile computing device includes atleast one of a home, an office, a store, a fitness facility, anautomobile, a park, a living room, a kitchen, a conference room, acubicle, a cafeteria, a hiking trail, a highway, or a city street.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 72-75, andfurther including means for receiving third sensor data from a differentwearable computing device, wherein the third sensor data is indicativeof a third location context of the different wearable computing device,and wherein the means for fusing the first sensor data and the secondsensor data to generate the fused sensor data includes means for fusingthe third sensor data received from the different wearable computingdevice with the first sensor data and the second sensor data to generatethe fused sensor data.

Example 77 includes a wearable computing device for context-basedmanagement, the wearable computing device including a local contextsensor to generate sensor data indicative of a location context of thewearable computing device; a remote device synchronization module totransmit the sensor data to a mobile computing device, wherein thesensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generate fused sensordata for remote determination of a context of the wearable computingdevice; and a local device management module to (i) determine whether amanagement message generated based on the remotely determined context ofthe wearable computing device is received from the mobile computingdevice, (ii) determine, in response to a determination that themanagement message is received from the mobile computing device, whetherthe received management message is a control message, and (iii) adjustthe functionality of the wearable computing device in response to adetermination that the management message received from the mobilecomputing device is a control message.

Example 78 includes the subject matter of Example 77, and wherein thelocal device management module is further to (i) determine, in responseto the determination that the management message is received from themobile computing device, whether the received management message is anotification message and (ii) display the notification message toindicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearable computingdevice is required.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77 and 78, andwherein to transmit the sensor data indicative of the location contextof the wearable computing device includes to periodically transmit thesensor data to the mobile computing device.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77-79, andwherein the remote device synchronization module is further to receivean interrogation signal from the mobile computing device, and wherein totransmit the sensor data indicative of the location context of thewearable computing device includes to transmit the sensor data to themobile computing device in response to the interrogation signal.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77-80, andfurther including a local data storage to locally store the sensor datagenerated by the local context sensor, wherein to transmit the sensordata indicative of the location context of the wearable computing deviceincludes to (i) retrieve the sensor data from the local data storage and(ii) transmit the sensor data to the mobile computing device.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77-81, andwherein the sensor data generated by the local context sensor includesfirst sensor data; wherein the local context sensor is further togenerate second sensor data indicative of a wireless signal strengthbetween the wearable computing device and a different wearable computingdevice; and wherein the remote device synchronization module is furtherto transmit the second sensor data to the mobile computing device,wherein the second sensor data to be fused with the first sensor dataand the remote sensor data to generate the fused sensor data for remotedetermination of the context of the wearable computing device.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77-82, andwherein the control message includes at least one of a functionalityenable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initializea function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearablecomputing device to terminate a function, a working power stateinstruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter anoperational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 84 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 77-83, andwherein the local device management module is further to manage a powerstate of the wearable computing device in response to the receivedcontrol message including at least one of the working power stateinstruction, the standby power state instruction, the suspend to diskpower state instruction, or the shutdown power state instruction.

Example 85 includes a method for context-based management of a wearablecomputing device, the method including generating, by a local contextsensor of the wearable computing device, sensor data indicative of alocation context of the wearable computing device; transmitting, by thewearable computing device, the sensor data to a mobile computing device,wherein the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generatefused sensor data for remote determination of a context of the wearablecomputing device; receiving, by the wearable computing device and fromthe mobile computing device, a management message generated based on theremotely determined context of the wearable computing device;determining, by the wearable computing device and in response toreceiving the management message from the mobile computing device,whether the received management message is a control message; andadjusting, by the wearable computing device, the functionality of thewearable computing device in response to a determination that themanagement message received from the mobile computing device is acontrol message.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of Example 85, and furtherincluding determining, by the wearable computing device and in responseto receiving the management message from the mobile computing device,whether the received management message is a notification message; anddisplaying, by the wearable computing device, the notification messageto indicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearablecomputing device is required.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85 and 86, andwherein transmitting the sensor data indicative of the location contextof the wearable computing device includes periodically transmitting thesensor data to the mobile computing device.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85-87, andfurther including receiving, by the wearable computing device, aninterrogation signal from the mobile computing device, and whereintransmitting the sensor data indicative of the location context of thewearable computing device includes transmitting the sensor data to themobile computing device in response to the interrogation signal.

Example 89 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85-88, andfurther including locally storing, by the wearable computing device, thesensor data generated by the local context sensor in a local datastorage of the wearable computing device, and wherein transmitting thesensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computingdevice includes (i) retrieving the sensor data from the local datastorage and (ii) transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computingdevice.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85-89, andwherein the sensor data generated by the local context sensor includesfirst sensor data; and further including generating, by the localcontext sensor of the wearable computing device, second sensor dataindicative of a wireless signal strength between the wearable computingdevice and a different wearable computing device, and transmitting, bythe wearable computing device, the second sensor data to the mobilecomputing device, wherein the second sensor data to be fused with thefirst sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fusedsensor data for remote determination of the context of the wearablecomputing device.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85-90, andwherein the control message includes at least one of a functionalityenable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initializea function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearablecomputing device to terminate a function, a working power stateinstruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter anoperational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 92 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 85-91, and bythe wearable computing device, a power state of the wearable computingdevice in response to the received control message including at leastone of the working power state instruction, the standby power stateinstruction, the suspend to disk power state instruction, or theshutdown power state instruction.

Example 93 includes a wearable computing device for context-basedmanagement, the wearable computing device including a processor; and amemory having stored therein a plurality of instructions that whenexecuted by the processor cause the wearable computing device to performthe method of any of Examples 85-92.

Example 94 includes one or more machine-readable media having aplurality of instructions stored thereon that in response to beingexecuted result in a wearable computing device performing the method ofany of Examples 85-92.

Example 95 includes a wearable computing device for context-basedmanagement, the wearable computing device including means for generatingsensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computingdevice; means for transmitting the sensor data to a mobile computingdevice, wherein the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data togenerate fused sensor data for remote determination of a context of thewearable computing device; means for receiving, from the mobilecomputing device, a management message generated based on the remotelydetermined context of the wearable computing device; means fordetermining, in response to receiving the management message from themobile computing device, whether the received management message is acontrol message; and means for adjusting the functionality of thewearable computing device in response to a determination that themanagement message received from the mobile computing device is acontrol message.

Example 96 includes the subject matter of Example 95, and furtherincluding means for determining, in response to receiving the managementmessage from the mobile computing device, whether the receivedmanagement message is a notification message; and means for displayingthe notification message to indicate that adjustment to thefunctionality of the wearable computing device is required.

Example 97 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95 and 96, andwherein the means for transmitting the sensor data indicative of thelocation context of the wearable computing device includes means forperiodically transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computingdevice.

Example 98 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95-97, andfurther including means for receiving an interrogation signal from themobile computing device, and wherein the means for transmitting thesensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computingdevice includes means for transmitting the sensor data to the mobilecomputing device in response to the interrogation signal.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95-98, andfurther including means for locally storing the sensor data generated bythe wearable computing device in a local data storage of the wearablecomputing device, and wherein the means for transmitting the sensor dataindicative of the location context of the wearable computing deviceincludes (i) means for retrieving the sensor data from the local datastorage and (ii) means for transmitting the sensor data to the mobilecomputing device.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95-99, andwherein the sensor data generated by the local context sensor includesfirst sensor data; and further including (i) means for generating secondsensor data indicative of a wireless signal strength between thewearable computing device and a different wearable computing device, and(ii) means for transmitting the second sensor data to the mobilecomputing device, wherein the second sensor data to be fused with thefirst sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fusedsensor data for remote determination of the context of the wearablecomputing device.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95-100, andwherein the control message includes at least one of a functionalityenable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initializea function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearablecomputing device to terminate a function, a working power stateinstruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter anoperational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk powerstate instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter ahibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause thewearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 95-101, andfurther including means for managing a power state of the wearablecomputing device in response to the received control message includingat least one of the working power state instruction, the standby powerstate instruction, the suspend to disk power state instruction, or theshutdown power state instruction.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wearable computing device for context-based management, the wearable computing device comprising: a local context sensor to generate sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computing device; transmitter to transmit the sensor data to a mobile computing device, the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generate fused sensor data for remote determination of a context of the wearable computing device; and local device circuitry to (i) determine whether a management message generated based on the remotely determined context of the wearable computing device has been received from the mobile computing device, (ii) determine, in response to a determination that the management message has been received from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a control message, and (iii) adjust the functionality of the wearable computing device in response to a determination that the management message received from the mobile computing device is a control message.
 2. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the local device circuitry is to (i) determine, in response to the determination that the management message has been received from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a notification message and (ii) display the notification message to indicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device is required.
 3. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is to transmit the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device periodically to the mobile computing device.
 4. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is to receive an interrogation signal from the mobile computing device and transmit the sensor data to the mobile computing device in response to the interrogation signal.
 5. The wearable computing device of claim 1, further including a local data storage to locally store the sensor data generated by the local context sensor, wherein the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device is from the local data storage.
 6. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor data generated by the local context sensor includes first sensor data; wherein the local context sensor is to generate second sensor data indicative of a wireless signal strength between the wearable computing device and a different wearable computing device; and wherein the transmitter is to transmit the second sensor data to the mobile computing device, the second sensor data to be fused with the first sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fused sensor data for remote determination of the context of the wearable computing device.
 7. The wearable computing device of claim 1, wherein the control message includes at least one of a functionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initialize a function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to terminate a function, a working power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter an operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a hibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.
 8. The wearable computing device of claim 7, wherein the local device circuitry is to manage a power state of the wearable computing device in response to the control message including at least one of the working power state instruction, the standby power state instruction, the suspend to disk power state instruction, or the shutdown power state instruction.
 9. A method for context-based management of a wearable computing device, the method comprising: transmitting sensor data, from the wearable computing device, to a mobile computing device, the sensor data to be generated by a local context sensor of the wearable computing device, the sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computing device, the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generate fused sensor data for remote determination of a context of the wearable computing device; receiving, by the wearable computing device and from the mobile computing device, a management message generated based on the remotely determined context of the wearable computing device; determining, by the wearable computing device and in response to receiving the management message from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a control message; and adjusting, by the wearable computing device, the functionality of the wearable computing device in response to a determination that the management message received from the mobile computing device is a control message.
 10. The method of claim 9, further including: determining, by the wearable computing device and in response to receiving the management message from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a notification message; and displaying, by the wearable computing device, the notification message to indicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device is required.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting of the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device includes periodically transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computing device.
 12. The method of claim 9, further including receiving, by the wearable computing device, an interrogation signal from the mobile computing device, wherein the transmitting of the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device includes transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computing device in response to the interrogation signal.
 13. The method of claim 9, further including locally storing, by the wearable computing device, the sensor data generated by the local context sensor in a local data storage of the wearable computing device, wherein the transmitting of the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device includes (i) retrieving the sensor data from the local data storage and (ii) transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computing device.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor data generated by the local context sensor includes first sensor data; and further including transmitting, by the wearable computing device, second sensor data to the mobile computing device, the second sensor data to be generated by the local context sensor of the wearable computing device, the second sensor data indicative of a wireless signal strength between the wearable computing device and a different wearable computing device, the second sensor data to be fused with the first sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fused sensor data for remote determination of the context of the wearable computing device.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the control message includes at least one of a functionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initialize a function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to terminate a function, a working power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter an operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a hibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.
 16. One or more machine-readable memories comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a wearable computing device, cause the wearable computing device to: transmit sensor data to a mobile computing device, the sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable computing device, the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generate fused sensor data for remote determination of a context of the wearable computing device; determine whether a management message generated based on the remotely determined context of the wearable computing device has been received from the mobile computing device; determine, in response to a determination that the management message has been received from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a control message; and adjust the functionality of the wearable computing device in response to a determination that the management message received from the mobile computing device is a control message.
 17. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the wearable computing device to: determine, in response to the determination that the management message has been received from the mobile computing device, whether the received management message is a notification message; and display the notification message to indicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearable computing device is required.
 18. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the wearable computing device to periodically transmit the sensor data to the mobile computing device.
 19. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the wearable computing device to transmit the sensor data to the mobile computing device in response to an interrogation signal.
 20. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the wearable computing device to: store the sensor data in a local data storage of the wearable computing device; and transmit the sensor data indicative of the location context of the wearable computing device by (i) retrieving the sensor data from the local data storage and (ii) transmitting the sensor data to the mobile computing device.
 21. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the sensor data includes first sensor data; and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the wearable computing device to transmit second sensor data to the mobile computing device, the second sensor data indicative of a wireless signal strength between the wearable computing device and a different wearable computing device, the second sensor data to be fused with the first sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fused sensor data for remote determination of the context of the wearable computing device.
 22. The one or more machine-readable memories of claim 16, wherein the control message includes at least one of a functionality enable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to initialize a function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearable computing device to terminate a function, a working power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter an operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a hibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause the wearable computing device to enter a powered down mode.
 23. A wearable compute device, the device comprising: at least one memory; instructions in the device; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: cause transmission of sensor data to a mobile compute device, the sensor data indicative of a location context of the wearable compute device, the sensor data to be fused with remote sensor data to generate fused sensor data to remotely determine a context of the wearable compute device; determine whether a management message generated based on the remotely determined context of the wearable compute device has been received from the mobile compute device; determine, in response to a determination that the management message has been received from the mobile compute device, whether the received management message is a control message; and adjust the functionality of the wearable compute device in response to a determination that the management message received from the mobile compute device is a control message.
 24. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the processor circuitry is to: determine, in response to the determination that the management message has been received from the mobile compute device, whether the received management message is a notification message; and display the notification message to indicate that adjustment to the functionality of the wearable compute device is required.
 25. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the processor circuitry is to cause the wearable compute device to periodically transmit the sensor data to the mobile compute device.
 26. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the processor circuitry is to e cause the wearable compute device to transmit the sensor data to the mobile compute device in response to an interrogation signal.
 27. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the processor circuitry is to cause the wearable compute device to store the sensor data in a local data storage of the wearable compute device.
 28. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the sensor data includes first sensor data and the processor circuitry is to cause the wearable compute device to transmit second sensor data to the mobile compute device, the second sensor data indicative of a wireless signal strength between the wearable compute device and a different wearable compute device, the second sensor data to be fused with the first sensor data and the remote sensor data to generate the fused sensor data to remotely determine the context of the wearable compute device.
 29. The wearable compute device of claim 23, wherein the control message includes at least one of a functionality enable instruction to cause the wearable compute device to initialize a function, a functionality disable instruction to cause the wearable compute device to terminate a function, a working power state instruction to cause the wearable compute device to enter an operational mode, a standby power state instruction to cause the wearable compute device to enter a sleep mode, a suspend to disk power state instruction to cause the wearable compute device to enter a hibernate mode, or a shutdown power state instruction to cause the wearable compute device to enter a powered down mode. 